#teamZalaris finishes the Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon, raising a legendary NOK 5 million to combat cancer
08 August 2025 07:02
For the sixth consecutive year, Zalaris proudly served as the title sponsor of the Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon - a race that many claim is the world’s toughest triathlon, a race so demanding it’s said to “make triathletes cry.” This extraordinary event is designed to celebrate the resilience and determination of ordinary people doing the extraordinary.
The 2025 #teamZalaris featured a strong lineup of athletes including CEO and founder of Zalaris Hans-Petter Mellerud (Norway) along with Carolina Laurentiu (Spain), Anders Rasmussen (Denmark), Ross Creber (UK), Gro Hege Viberg Jermstad (Norway), and Andreas Martinussen (Norway). All six athletes earned black t-shirts, with Creber securing an impressive 9th place and Martinussen in 16th.
Zalaris’ participation in Norseman is about more than just athletic and personal achievement, it’s a commitment to making a meaningful difference. In 2025, Andreas Martinussen alone raised an impressive 4.5 million NOK for the Norwegian charity Aktiv mot Kreft. Together, the team raised nearly 5 million NOK, continuing annual mission to support the fight against cancer. The funds directly support cancer charities across Europe: Aktiv mot Kreft in Norway, Børnecancerfonden in Denmark, the Spanish Association Against Cancer, and 5K Your Way – Move Against Cancer in the UK.
Hans-Petter Mellerud, CEO and founder of Zalaris, stated: “Raising nearly 5 million NOK, with 4.5 million from Andreas alone, is a monumental achievement. It’s not just a testament to endurance, but to heart. Every year, #teamZalaris proves that our participation in Norseman is about more than sport. It’s about standing up for something greater. I’m incredibly proud of the effort from the entire team, completing the world’s toughest triathlon and all earning black t-shirts is an achievement in itself. They’ve shown what’s possible when passion, purpose, and perseverance come together. These are values that we at Zalaris cherish and that we seek to live by in our daily lives serving our customers with leading global payroll and HR solutions and services.”
The 2025 race was won by Norwegian Kristian Grue with a time of 09:45:20, while Julia Skala from Germany led the women’s race, reaching the summit of Gaustatoppen in 11:00:23 and setting a new course record.
The Zalaris Norseman Xtreme Triathlon is the world’s most formidable full-distance triathlon. It begins with a dramatic leap from a ferry into the icy waters of Norway’s Eidfjord, followed by a 3.8 km swim, a 180 km bike ride through rugged mountain terrain, and a 42.2 km marathon that ends at the summit of Mount Gaustatoppen. Spanning a total of 226 km with over 5,000 meters of elevation gain, Norseman is a relentless test of endurance, strength, and mental grit. Zalaris proudly continues its role as title sponsor, celebrating not just athletic achievement, but a deeper commitment to health, community, and purpose.
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Hans-Petter Mellerud, CEO and founder Zalaris
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About Zalaris
Zalaris is a leading provider of Global Payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions, delivering services to over 1.5 million employees each month and generating annual revenues exceeding €130 million. With a team of more than 1,200 experienced consultants across 18 countries, we support organisations in over 150 countries worldwide through a unified, cloud-based system.
Our mission is to simplify HR and payroll operations, providing scalable solutions that streamline administration and deliver actionable insights. By empowering organisations to focus more on their people, we help drive strategic growth and long-term value.
To learn more, visit zalaris.com.